Letter: Fitch the Right Candidate for City Council

To the Editor:

Andrew Fitch would be an excellent addition to the North Adams City Council and I am writing to show support for his election to the Council.

Since coming to North Adams, Andrew has demonstrated a strong passion for the city. He has become an active member of several organizations and boards, including First Fridays, North Adams Pride, North Adams Vacant Storefront Window Art, and more. He is a current member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and is co-chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Commission.

Andrew brings a diverse background of experience to North Adams. His education in political science combined with his community volunteer work and career in community engagement and DEI make Andrew a highly qualified candidate with the ability to hit the ground running for positive change in our city.

Nancy Bullett
North Adams, Mass. 

Bullett is a former city councilor

North Adams Schools Talk Final Budget Numbers for Public Hearing

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:15AM / Wednesday, May 08, 2024

The elementary schools will be phasing in a new math curriculum over the next two years. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee received the presentation given last week to the Finance & Facilities committee for the fiscal 2025 spending plan.

 

The subcommittee is recommending the budget of $20,357,096, up $302,744 or 1.51 percent over this year. This was expected to be funded by $16,418,826 in state Chapter 70 education funds, local funding of $3,938,270 (up $100,000 over this year) and a drawdown of school funds of $575,237. This will also include the closure of Greylock School at the end of this year and the reduction of 26 full-time positions. 

 

A hybrid public hearing on the budget will be held on Thursday, May 23, at 5:30 at Brayton School, with a vote by the School Committee to immediately follow. 

 

The extra $100,000 from the city will likely not be part of this funding package, warned Mayor Jennifer Macksey, chair of the School Committee. 

 

"Going through all my process on the city side, so to say, with the rest of my departments, it's going to be really hard for me to squeak out the additional $100,000," said the mayor, alluding to a budget gap of $600,000 to $800,000 for fiscal 2025 she's trying to close. 

 

"I just want to be fully transparent with everyone sitting here, and as your School Committee chair, I don't know if the city budget is going to be able to squeak out that $100,000. That number will most likely change."

 

Director of School Finance and Operations Nancy Rauscher said the $100,000 had been a placeholder with administration understanding that it could change.